TY - JOUR
T1 - A critical assessment of null hypothesis significance testing in quantitative communication research
AU - Levine, Timothy R.
AU - Weber, René
AU - Hullett, Craig
AU - Park, Hee Sun
AU - Lindsey, Lisa L.Massi
PY - 2008/4
Y1 - 2008/4
N2 - Null hypothesis significance testing (NHST) is the most widely accepted and frequently used approach to statistical inference in quantitative communication research. NHST, however, is highly controversial, and several serious problems with the approach have been identified. This paper reviews NHST and the controversy surrounding it. Commonly recognized problems include a sensitivity to sample size, the null is usually literally false, unacceptable Type II error rates, and misunderstanding and abuse. Problems associated with the conditional nature of NHST and the failure to distinguish statistical hypotheses from substantive hypotheses are emphasized. Recommended solutions and alternatives are addressed in a companion article.
AB - Null hypothesis significance testing (NHST) is the most widely accepted and frequently used approach to statistical inference in quantitative communication research. NHST, however, is highly controversial, and several serious problems with the approach have been identified. This paper reviews NHST and the controversy surrounding it. Commonly recognized problems include a sensitivity to sample size, the null is usually literally false, unacceptable Type II error rates, and misunderstanding and abuse. Problems associated with the conditional nature of NHST and the failure to distinguish statistical hypotheses from substantive hypotheses are emphasized. Recommended solutions and alternatives are addressed in a companion article.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=41149155256&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1468-2958.2008.00317.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1468-2958.2008.00317.x
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:41149155256
SN - 0360-3989
VL - 34
SP - 171
EP - 187
JO - Human Communication Research
JF - Human Communication Research
IS - 2
ER -